Re: The Audience Doesn't Care What Pedals You Use
Paragraph #4 really got my blood boiling. "less expensive / Asian vs USA gear /expensive gear." So...less expensive gear comes from Asia, and USA gear is expensive? I guess the Japanese don't know that they should sell Navigators for less than $500 because they are Asian guitars. And Gibson really ought to sell all of their guitars for a lot more money than any Asian guitars because Gibsons are made in the USA. "A modded entry level guitar will never be a well crafted guitar" Hmm, I think most of us here consider Squier to be an entry level guitar. Well, my made in Japan (gasp!) Squier Venus has neck to body fit, fret finishing, and control cavity routing and finishing that is exponentially better than my Gibson SG (albeit a Special model...for the sake of full disclosure). And I don't say this because I spent less money on the Venus, it's simply fact if one compares rough vs smooth fret edges and wood finishing along with any measurable gaps between neck and body. And lastly "cheaply made gear is never a benchmark or reference point when seeking excellence or subtle harmonic detail." I seem to recall a company from California that was criticized for producing guitars with bolted-on vs glued in necks. Boy this company was ripped a new one because of their cheaply made (compared to at-the-time traditionally made) guitars. It's so sad that Leo created the Esquire, Broadcaster, Telecaster, and Stratocaster because these cheaply made guitars were doomed from the start to never be benchmarks of excellence or harmonic detail.
You missed the point completely.
^^ This^^ :laugh:
Its totally cool, words are clumsy at best and I am never as articulate as I like. I apologize for my lack of clarity. There is no flame towards anybody and its not so deep either way.
Although I am honestly surprised that this post ruffled someones feathers or that my point was missed, I think blood boiling mad should be for serious issues and real life challenges not this. My post was just about points I find useless to debate (such as the OP's post).This is just a basic observation from 15 years on these boards with 1000's and 1000's of nearly worthless forum arguments to confirm what I said. BTW, words like 'well-crafted' and 'entry level' may not mean the same thing to each player, so its good to take it for what it is. I am only using them to illustrate a point. I have recently posted a video here on the forum with me showcasing a custom pedal. In it I am playing my #1 studio bass (made in Indonesia Yamaha BB 425x) and you will see me playing my (made in Korea Dean Resonator) Both are very well crafted guitars) In the background you can note a Japanese Gretsch, made in 1992 that cost me $3200. Extremely well crafted guitar. Zero fret, incredible sustain and tone. Really special. (Maybe the best I own no doubt for workmanship). If you could see the wall to my right, you would see my 84' Squier P-Bass (Made in Japan) which I have had and played professionally for 20 years. Also are 2 Fender American Teles, A Nash Tele, A PRS Private Reserve Studio and an American made Taylor. All are excellent instruments. All I play are excellent instruments and country of origin has no relevance to me. This is true of all my gear although I do support USA manufactures as often as I can. (That is not part of my post)
But, for some reason, here on the forums players who use 'American' guitars tend to have a superiority complex and players who use 'Asian' guitars tend to have an inferiority complex, and the two tend to engage often on gear forums. I personally find it useless.
That said, I will reiterate. Cheaply made gear is cheaply made gear, regardless of who's name is on it and how much it costs. I know the difference. And although I was originally referring to pedals and audio equipment, it certainly applies to guitars. I play a variety of Teles so I appreciate the design and the 'harmonic' possibilites. None of them were cheaply made however. Being a 'serious modder' and being one of the the main in-house 'mod' guys for Seymour Duncan at one point in time, I have modded so many guitars of every level that I could never remember them all. I have owned Nash, Suhr, Anderson, K-line, Sadowsky, PRS, Collings, Taylor, Gretsch, National, 2 customs. I can tell you that a 'well crafted' guitar has a level of detail that you will never find on the best entry level guitar, no matter how much you mod it. That's not an insult or an attack. Why would we expect it to be any other way? Squier? They make some good guitars but luthiers like John Suhr and Bill Collings do not use a Squier as their 'reference' point. I'm my experience the level of quality is on a whole different playing field and personally they all helped elevate my own standards. Some players really develop an appreciation for that standard. I know I have.
Its all good. There is no debate here. I probably could have said: There is high quality and low quality. Low quality is never...high quality no matter how functional it is. And... cheaply made is never high-quality no matter what the cost. But for some reason both points are popular to debate on the forums.
Cheers and respect,
RG
